Thill-coupling



(No Model.)

W. S. GSBORN.

THILL GOUPLING.

No. 593,602. Patented Nov. l, 1897.

n W 4MM. W n w f y f Y Q FIL ing-plate urgedby said nuts.

IINTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

IVINFIELI) S. OSBORN, OF REMINGTON, INDIANA.

THILL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 593,602, dated November 16, 1897. Application filed November l0, 1896. Serial No. 611,629. (No model.)

T0 @ZZ whom. t may concern:

Be it known that I, WINEIELD S. OsBoRN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Remington,in the county of Jasper and State of Indiana, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thill- Couplings for Oarriages; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and .exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to thill-couplings.

My object is to provide a thill-coupling of extremely simple and cheap construction which will be adapted to prevent all rattling or vibration.

A further object is to provide a novel Aform of thill-coupling whereby the thill may be held in upright position after it has been raised, but can be brought to horizontal position whenever desirable.

Having these objects in view, the invention consists of a thill-coupling comprising certain improved features' and novel constructions, which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, Figure l is a side elevation of my improved thill-couplin g,show ing the locking-cap 'thrown back or opened; Fig. 2, a similar view showing said cap closed; Fig. 3, a sectional side elevation showing the safety-cap opened out or thrown back; Fig. et, a detail of the thill-iron; Fig. 5, a transverse section taken through the trunnion of the thill-iron; Fig. 6, a front elevation showing the locking-cap partly broken awaj,r and the safety-cap thrown down to permit locking of the thill-iron; and Fig. 7 aperspective view of the device, except the thill-iron, showing the safety-cap closed and the locking-cap open.

The numeral l designates the usual form of clip or shackle adapted for connecting the thill to the axle of a vehicle, said clip being provided with the ordinary form of screwthreaded arms, nuts thereon, and a clamp- Connected to the front portion of the clip is a curved bracket 2, which is cut away in front, as at 3, to receive the thill. Said bracket is provided with a loop or band 4, forming a bearing.

I Said band is provided with a series of steps 5. A combined safety and dust cap 4 is hinged to the forward portion of the band 4, comprising an'end piece and a top curved ilange 4.". Thissafetyrapisprovidedwithatongue 9 and a thumb-button lO.

At ll there is shown a catch which is connected to the bracket and engages with the tongue 9' when the safety-cap is closed. At the other side of the bracket there is an arm 6. A locking-cap 7 is hinged to said arm 6, this locking-cap being provided with a closed end 7', to the inner face of which is connected a bent spring 8. The locking-cap is also provided with a tongue 9 and a thumbbutton 10.

The numeral 11 designates a catch which is connected to the clip and adapted for engagement with said tongue.

The thill-iron is designated by the numeral 12, said iron being adapted for connection with the thill in any preferred manner. It is provided with a trunnion or journal 13 and a lower shoulder 14, which is adapted to abut on the lower portion of the bracket to prevent the thill from dropping too far. y The trunnion is received in the bracket and journaled YVin the band and locking-cap. The bent spring at all times presses against'the end of the trunnion and tends to 4force it latleased and the-thill 'can be again brought to normal position. Whenever it is desirable to remove the thill the locking-capcan be thrown back, as shown in Figs. l and 7, and the trunnion can be taken out'. Owing'to the peculiar disposition and arrangement of the parts the latter are prevented from vibrating or rattling in any manner, so that a superior thill-coupling is provded.-

There are many slight changes that could erally. Ordinarily the curved flange of the the same the engagement of such parts is re- IOO be made in constructing the various parts of the device Without detracting from any of the advantages of the latter, and hence I consider myself entitled to all such variations as properly come Wit-hin the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a thill-coupling, the combination With a bracket adapted to be secured to the vehicle-axle, of a thill, a band secured to the bracket and in which the thill is journaled, which band has steps adapted to engage with the thill, and a safety-cap pivoted to the bracket which, when closed7 abuts on the thill and holds the same out of engagement with the steps.

2. In a thill-coupling, the combination with a bracket adapted for connection to the vehicle-axle and provided with a loop or bend having steps constituting catches, of a safetycap hinged to said loop and having a portion overhanging the same, a locking-cap hinged g to the other end of the bracket, a presserspring secured to the lookin g-cap, and a thilliron having a trunnion journaled in the curved portion of the bracket, in the lockingcap, and in the loop or bend, and having its shank adapted to move in the cut-away portion, the said spring pressing against said trunnion and urging the same laterally so that the shank abuts on the overhanging portion of the safety-cap, and said parts being so disposed and related that when the safetycap is opened the shank of the thill-iron is released and the spring urges the same into engagement with the steps.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

. WINFIELD S. OSBORN.

Witnesses:

CHRIS V. SELsoR,

PETER J. PoTHINsJE. 

